LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Smith Square 1&2, Ground Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. View directions

Contact: Cathy Boyle 

Items
No. Item

As this was Cllr Mehboob Khan’s last meeting, Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman, thanked him on behalf of the Board for his contribution to the work of the LGA over the past ten years and wished him well for the future.

 

1.

Business Case and Plan for RSG 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

Michael Coughlin, Executive Director, introduced a report seeking the Leadership Board’s comments on the business case and plan to be submitted to DCLG for revenue support grant (RSG) in 2015/16.  Michael Coughlin informed the Board that all organisations funded by DCLG are required to submit a business case for funding.  Michael set out the five broad areas of work that it was proposed would be funded by RSG in 2015/16.

 

Dennis Skinner, Head of Leadership and Productivity, responded to a number of detailed comments made by member, including:

 

·         the need to ensure that sound evidence can be provided in respect of each element

of the LGA’s case for RSG;

 

·         that the LGA’s Boards are made aware of the “key metrics” included in the Business Case which apply to their particular Board area, including comparison with 2010 and 2007;

 

·         to review the use of the term “sector-led improvement” both within the document and more generally in our communications with councils.

 

Members commended officers on a very useful report.

 

Decisions

 

The Leadership Board agreed

 

·         that further work be undertaken to strengthen the impact of the Executive Summary;

 

·         to authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the business case and plan, in consultation with the Chairman and submit to DCLG.

 

·         that the Executive Summary be disseminated to the LGA’s wider membership;

 

Action

 

Officers to finalise the business case and plan, in consultation with the Chairman and

submit to DCLG.                                                                                                  

 

Officers to disseminate the revised Executive Summary to the LGA’s wider membership. 

                                                                                                                            

1a

Appendix A - Business Case and Plan for RSG 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 465 KB

1b

Appendix B - RSG pdf icon PDF 81 KB

2.

LGA Annual Conference & Exhibition 2014 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

David Holdstock, Director of Communications, introduced a report updating the Leadership Board on the progress to date with arrangements for the LGA Annual Conference taking place in Bournemouth from 8-10 July 2014.

 

Members discussed the programme for the event and suggested four additional conference sessions for this year:

 

·         Fracking;

·         Municipal Bonds Agency;

·         The role of local government in emergency situations;

·         Implications for local government of the Scottish referendum.

 

Decisions

 

The Leadership Board

 

·         noted the update on progress to date with arrangements for the 2014

conference;

 

·         requested that further consideration be given to the titles of the

conferences sessions set out in the report;

 

·         agreed that the 2014 Conference should formally close after the Political Group meetings, which would be held over lunch on the

final day.

 

 

Decision

 

The LGA Leadership Board approved the emerging programme and activities for the

2014 Annual Conference & Exhibition, subject to their comments;

 

Action

 

Officers to provide further updates on a monthly basis.          

 

2a

Appendix A - Annual Conference Programme pdf icon PDF 80 KB

3.

LGA Perceptions Survey 2013

This report has not been printed as it is enclosed with the LGA Executive agenda for 20 March 2014.  Please refer to the Executive agenda for this item.

Minutes:

David Holdstock introduced a report setting out the results of the 2013 perceptions survey and asking the Leadership Board to agree the headline principles of the action plan. David said that this year’s results showed significant improvement

compared with 2012 in all of the key areas.  However, although there was a significant increase in the number of people who felt that the LGA demonstrated value for money, this was comparatively low when compared to responses to other questions.

 

With regard to value for money, members stressed the importance of continuing to provide member authorities with information on tangible financial benefits of membership

 

Decisions

                                                                                                                                       

The Leadership Board noted the results of the 2013 perceptions survey and

agreedthe headline principles of the revised action plan for 2014.

 

Action

 

Officers to progress as directed by the Board.                                                 

4.

Appendix A - LGA Perceptions Survey Action Plan

5.

Chief Executive's Report - February 2014 pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Minutes:

The Leadership Board received the Chief Executive’s monthly report for February 2014.

 

The Chairman informed the Board that Newcastle City Council had now withdrawn its notice. In the light of the new combined authorities, the Integrated Transport Authorities would cease to be members in their own right from 1 April 2014.

 

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, highlighted the current positive situation regarding membership, compared with three years ago when 7 authorities were out of  membership over 30 councils on notice to withdraw.

 

Councillor David Sparks OBE, Vice-chairman, again stressed the need to demonstrate value for money in order to retain membership, as member councils continue to face tough financial decisions.

 

Decision

 

The Leadership Board noted the Chief Executive’s report for February 2014.

 

5.       LGA Executive agenda

 

Decision

 

The Leadership Board noted the LGA Executive agenda for the following day.

 

 

6.

LGA Executive Agenda

Minutes:

Decision

 

The Leadership Board noted the LGA Executive agenda for the following day.

7.

LGA Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Minutes:

Decision

 

The Leadership Board noted the Forward Plan and requested that the following items be brought to the LGA Executive:

 

·         Local government’s role in Housing (March;

·         Social Care Bill/Better Care Fund (March);

·         Future actions following the floods(March);

·         Relationships between local government and the statutory agencies(April)

 

The Chairman asked that Group Leaders consider further issues that they would like to see brought to future meetings of the Leadership Board/LGA Executive/Councillors’ Forum.

 

 

PART 2 - CONFIDENTIAL

8.

Note of the last meeting

Minutes:

The Leadership Board approved the note of the last meeting.

9.

Icelandic Banks Update

Minutes:

The Leadership Board noted the report and agreed the recommendations.

 

10.

Future Relationship of the Leadership Centre with the LGA

Minutes:

The Leadership Board noted the report and agreed that officers should take forward their proposals.

 

 

Date of the next meeting:  Wednesday, 19 March 2014 at 2.00pm